Someone I know needs help with…
Body Image

What is body image?
Body image is how we think and feel about our bodies, how we look, and how we believe others see us. A lot of us have some things about how our face or body look that we don’t like. Body confidence is something most of us could do with a bit more of! The way someone talks about their body and feels their body looks might be very different to how it actually looks to you. Body image is not just about a person’s weight, it can also include:
- Comparing how a person looks compared to other people
- Not feeling able to love or accept how they look
- Not seeing people who look like them accepted in the media
- Hiding their body because they feel ashamed of it
- Struggling to find clothes they feel comfortable in
- Feeling misunderstood about their body
- Feeling like they are not attractive
- Worrying about things like birthmarks, scars or acne
- Feeling like their body does not match their true self
Body Dysmorphic Disorder
Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is a condition in which someone becomes very focused on a part of their appearance they don’t like. It might be their nose, their hair, or the shape of their face. It might be redness that they can see on their skin, or spots. To them the flaw in how they look seems obvious, and they might have ideas that they are ugly or that other people won’t want to spend time with them. It can leave them feeling anxious, down, and alone. Usually other people don’t see the ‘flaw’ as being nearly as bad as the person with BDD does. You may even struggle to see it at all. Common symptoms of BDD include avoiding mirrors or someone who is checking their appearance in mirrors very often; trying to hide the part of your appearance that they don’t like with clothes or make up; and comparing how they look to other people. If you think someone you care about might have BDD, encourage them talk to you about it, and to reach out for help from a professional.
Top tips to support someone you care about who is struggling with their body image:
- Compliment your friend/family member for things other than how they look
- Do things together that don’t involve weight loss, comparing how they to someone else, or criticism
- Encourage them to think critically about images of people in the media and on social media; these are often digitally altered to appear perfect
- Let them know you are there for them if they would like to talk about it
- Encourage them to only follow people on social media who make them feel good, and talk about body confidence
- Support them to do things that are kind to their body, like exercising, taking a bath, buying a new piece of clothing in the right size, or using body lotion
- Focus on what it feels like to be healthy, rather than what it looks Encourage healthy food choices, and emphasize the role of food as fuel
If you think that how someone feels about their body is making them feel anxious or low, encourage them to talk to their GP about how they are feeling. They can listen, tell them about local services and support groups, or they may suggest specific treatment for the way they are feeling.
Get Help Now!
Here are a list of services that can help. The icons below tell you the type of support available.

Talking Therapies

Mind

CALM

Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation

Crisis Line

SHOUT
Which services can I access?
Some of the services available operate only within city or the wider county area. Pop your postcode in below to quickly check which services are available to you
Related topics
-
Depression
Everyone has ups and downs. Sometimes you might feel a bit down…
-
Anxiety
You might feel nervous, stressed, anxious or ‘on edge’ when you are getting ready to do something that is difficult for you.
-
Loneliness and isolation
Loneliness and social isolation can affect us all at some point in our lives…
-
Bullying
This is the Anti-Bullying Alliance’s definition of bullying:
“The repetitive, intentional hurting of one person or group by another person…